AI Agents for Beginners
AI Agents for Beginners is a self-paced online course delivered by Microsoft (GitHub). It is free, the provider does not state how long it takes, and does not award a credential.
FreeChecked on 7 October 2026
- Relevance to work
- 1.8 / 3
- Cost and access
- 2 / 2
- Provider
- 1.6 / 2
- Credential
- 0.3 / 1.5
- Currency
- 1.05 / 1.5
- Total
- 6.8 / 10
Provider learner rating: Not published by the provider
Key facts
| Cost | FreeFree and open source (MIT licence) on GitHub. |
|---|---|
| Time | Time not stated (not stated) |
| Level | Beginner |
| Format | self-paced online |
| Prerequisites | Python, basic generative AI knowledge, and an Azure account for some exercises |
| Credential | No credential |
| Open to | Worldwide |
| Free in | Worldwide |
| Content written for | Any country |
| Last checked | 2026-10-07 |
Topics:Agents and workflowsTechnicalCoding
Things to know
- No certificate
- Hours are not stated
- Some exercises need an Azure account, which may have costs
Summary
An 18-lesson open course from Microsoft on building AI agents: what agents are, the main frameworks, design patterns, tool use, agentic retrieval and how to make agents trustworthy. It is code-first and suits developers who have built a basic AI app and want to move to agents.
Why it's listed
Builds Programming, number 19 on the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs 2025 core skills list.
Also supports Systems thinking.
From the course: Lessons 'Agentic design patterns'; 'Tool use'; 'Agentic RAG'
See how the AI Adaptation Profile treats ProgrammingYou will be able to
- Explain what an AI agent is and when to use one
- Compare agent frameworks and design patterns
- Give an agent tools and retrieval
- Apply practices that make agents safer and more trustworthy
Modules
- Introduction to AI agents
- Agentic frameworks
- Agentic design patterns
- Tool use
- Agentic RAG
- Building trustworthy agents
Who it suits
Developers with some Python and generative AI experience who want to build agents.
Who is behind it
- Delivered by
- Microsoft
- Hosted on
- GitHub (github.com/microsoft)
- Funded by
- Not stated
- Partners
- Not stated
Related courses
- TAFE NSW AI Microskills Bundle4.6
Free
- Applied AI Foundations4.4
Free
- Introduction to Agentic AI4.3
Free
Questions
Yes. It is free for anyone, anywhere in the world. Free and open source (MIT licence) on GitHub. Checked 7 October 2026 against the provider's own page.
Microsoft does not state how long Microsoft AI Agents for Beginners takes.
No. Microsoft does not award or state a certificate for Microsoft AI Agents for Beginners.
Microsoft AI Agents for Beginners is best for developers with some Python and generative AI experience who want to build agents.
ApplyAI rates Microsoft AI Agents for Beginners 3.4 out of 5. Best for developers with some Python and generative AI experience who want to build agents. Watch for: No certificate.
Sources
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